A journal of our adventures in construction, garlic farming and growing our own food as we transition from life in Chicago to life in Southwestern Wisconsin.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Bread Tray score

Biking home from work earlier this week, I spied 5 bread trays outside of the dumpsters at Feed Restaurant on California Ave. in Chicago. (Bread trays as in the large, plastic, perforated trays in which bread drivers deliver bread.) I figured that I would ride home, get the car and drive back and pick them up. I rode about 3 blocks further and thought, nah, I bet I can balance those on my bike. I only had 2 bungee cords with me and it took me about 30 minutes of stretching, bungee'ing, balancing and re-do's to finally get them somewhat (ahem, stress the somewhat) secure enough for me to uncomfortably ride home. I was the recipient of lots of strange looks but we have 5 trays in which to cure our garlic as well as diverting them from the waste stream.

That would be a great way to dry garlic! I bet you did get some strange looks :-)It is great to read of the progress you are making. I have been taking a break from posting but will probably get back into it soon. This weekend, most of our kitchen will be in!

Hi Judy, yes, we joke that most of our church-house furniture is from the garbage. We scored a great old oak elementary school teacher desk a couple of years ago. Great condition, intact legs, and even keys in the drawer! It is beautiful.

Hi Barb, Thanks for your encouragement. I understand about taking a break - I did the same in Jan and Feb. Exciting news about your kitchen!

I've got a bunch of pepsi trays like they deliver the 20oz bottle to the convience stores in. I've been using them to put the small seed cups in and am about to put them in my chicken coop as nesting boxes. I didn't even think about using them to dry my garlic!! (Hopefully all has gone well with the garlic.... the weather has been wacky as all get out lately) Thanks for the tip!

Give you joy of your dumpster dive success; bad news re the line breaks. My problem went away when I switched to the new editor, but I haven't posted anything for a couple of weeks, so, I cross my fingers....

About Me

I am a garlic farmer that has recently relocated from the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago to Lancaster, WI.
We like fixing up old buildings - whether it be 3 flats in Chicago, a historic church, or a run-down farm in SW Wisc.